Fire-escape.



T. G. MARSHALL;

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.19, 1912.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

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THOMAS cnuronnn mnnsnannor MARSHALL, MIssoUnI- FIRE-E$GAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 19, 191 2. Se'riaI No. 678,504.

To all whom it may concern. 7

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. MARSHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marshall, in the county of Saline and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Fire Escape, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire escapes and one of its objects is to provide a portable structure of that type utilizing a flexible tube or chute through which persons may pass from a window of a building, means being provided whereby the said tube can be held practically in a substantially vertical position without causing injury to the persons using the same.

A further object is to provide a fire escape of this type particularly designed for use between walls which are close together.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the pre ferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fire escape set up for use. upper end portion of the fire escape. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower end por tion thereof. Fig. t is an enlarged perspective view of one of the means employed for connecting the fire escape to a window structure.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a flexible tube formed of a suitable fabric preferably rendered fireproof in any manner and provided, at its upper end, with snap hooks 2 or the like which may be placed in engagement with eyes 3 formed at the ends of hooks 4 or which can be secured to any other suitable devices located adjacent the window opening A of a building B. Where hooks 4: are

' employed the same can be applied to any windows or other openings in a structure.

The snap hooks 2 are preferably secured to the upper ends of ropes 5 extending longitudinally of and secured to the tube 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the The lower ends of the ropes are extended beyond the tube at diametrically opposed points and straps 6 are secured to the lower end portion of the tube between the ropes and constitute handles or grips whereby'the lower part of the tube can be opened out in the manner hereinafter set forth. 7

In using the fire escape the hooks 4 are placed in engagement with the sides of the window openings A or, if eye bolts or the like are already in position at the sides of the window opening, the snap hooks 2 are placed in engagement therewith. The flexible tube 1 is then unrolled so as to hang close to the ground and the lower ends of the ropes 5 are extended downwardly along diverging lines from the tube and attached to stakes 7 or the like which are driven into the ground. Pulleys 8 may be utilized to facilitate drawing the ropes taut. As only two of the ropes 5 are provided within the tube for the greater portion of the length of the tube, it will be apparent that when these two ropes are drawn taut in the manner described the lower portion of the tube will be flattened. Thus it will be seen that when a person enters the upper open end of the tube he will slide downwardly within the tube and this downward movement will be gradually retarded as the body enters the flattened or contracted portion of the tube. When the person reaches the lower end of the tube he can pass therefrom with little efiort and, if necessary, the exit of the person can be aided by other persons pulling in opposite directions on the handles or grips 6 so as to open the lower end of the tube. Where it is deemed desirable, the ropes 5 can be extended downwardly along diverging linesand into engagement with pulleys 9'connected to hooks 10 which can be attached to oppositely disposed structures. Thus when the ropes 5 are drawn taut, the lower portion of the tube 1 will be flattened out and said tube will operate in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

It will be apparent that by utilizing apparatus such as herein described the tube can be extended downwardly along substantially vertical lines and a person can escape therethrough without danger of injury.

This type of fire escape is especially desirable in view of the fact that it can be used efiiciently between walls which are close together.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

What is claimed is A fire escape including a flexible tube, diametrically opposed ropes secured within the tube and extending longitudinally therea of, the lower ends of the ropes extending beyond the outlet end of the tube and diverging downwardly from said end for engaging anchoring means, said diverging portions const-ituting means for holding the 10 lower portion of the tube substantially flat and vertical when the ropes are drawn taut,

the upper end portion of each rope being forked, and means upon the terminals of each fork for engaging a supporting structure.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS CRUTOHER MARSHALL.

Witnesses:

H. D. QUIGG, E. E. BARNUM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G. 

